Undergraduate

Professional Practice in Early Years 0-8

A t toddler with toys in a playroom
Young children looking at insects through glass
Children and tutor playing with animal toys in the classroom
An education student in the classroom

Look around

This course gives you the chance to progress your career in the early years sector.
You’ll use your professional experience to help you develop your knowledge, skills, and confidence in working with children aged 0 to 8 years.
This course includes an option to achieve EYE status and be recognised as a ‘full and relevant’ practitioner in the early years sector.
You could access our simulated early years learning environment.
Learn in our lecture rooms as part of a community of students and staff who all share an interest in developing learning opportunities for others.
A t toddler with toys in a playroom
Young children looking at insects through glass
Children and tutor playing with animal toys in the classroom
An education student in the classroom
Education Lecture Room

Code

Duration

Mode

  • Standard course
  • September 2024
  • September 2025

Develop your knowledge and understanding of working with babies and young children on this foundation degree for practitioners.

Taught in the evenings, you'll be able to balance your work or volunteering role with young children while you study. If you’re a child-minder, teaching assistant, pre-school learning leader or an early-years practitioner, or other role with 0-8s, you’ll benefit from the professional development opportunities that go hand in hand with this foundation degree.

You’ll learn through expert-led learning linking theory to practice and explore your development as a practitioner.

  • Endorsed

    by industry body SEFDEY 1

  • Learn in the evening

    and fit study around your life

  • Forest School

    certification opportunity

  • Gain

    a DfE recognised ‘full and relevant’ qualification

  • Understand

    the links between theory and practice

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Course overview
Module options

About this course

This course is designed to meet the exact but changing needs of employers in the early years sector. So you’ll gain the valuable skills you need to progress within childhood education and care.

You’ll study a broad range of topics. First year modules cover health and wellbeing, play and learning, and inclusion and diversity. This course includes an optional Early Years Educator (EYE) pathway too.2

Build practical skills while you learn, carrying out part of your training in your own workplace. You could access our on-campus simulated early years learning environment. And study for accredited Forest School certification, too. This prepares you to work outside with children, taking into account a range of extra needs, and gives you a valuable extra qualification.

You'll develop essential skills and attributes that employers in the sector value while gaining experience in an academic background. And gain the expertise and knowledge to apply for a top-up qualification with Graduate Practitioner Status, or other professional education route. 

Scheduled study hours and how you’re assessed

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours and independent study. How this time’s divided among each of these varies each year and depends on the course and modules you study.

You’ll be assessed through a mix of coursework, presentations and group projects.

Choose your modules

Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120. Some modules are compulsory, some are optional, so you can build a course that’s right for you.

Early Child Development: Theory into Practice

This module will introduce you to the evidence-based principle of child development, giving due consideration to play and learning, children’s rights, diversity, equity and inclusion. You'll link theory and practice through the evaluation of various observation techniques for working with babies and young children.

Compulsory•20 credits

Foundations for Academic Practice

This module introduces effective learning strategies and provides opportunities to develop the skills required for study in higher education. You will answer questions like: How do I reference accurately? What is a valid source of information? How do I present my work? And what is plagiarism?

Compulsory•20 credits

Professional Reflective Practice: Listening to Young Children

This module is focused on the concept of listening to babies' and young children's voices and behaviours, as they become aware of their own agency and independence, and your role in this developmental process.

Compulsory•20 credits

Professional Reflective Practice: Learning Journeys

Develop your skills in reflective learning on the practice of assessment and its purpose when working with babies and young children. You will have the opportunity to explore your own professional values and ethics through the key themes of professional responsibility and accountability.

Compulsory•20 credits

Safeguarding and Promoting the Wellbeing of Babies, Children and Families

You'll examine the current statutory framework and the impact this has on babies, young children, families and practitioners. You will explore the themes of leadership, communication and multiagency working whilst reflecting on previous case studies and how these have shaped current practice.

Compulsory•20 credits

Social Inclusion

You'll be introduced to social inclusion and the impact this can have on babies, young children and families, you will be exploring and reflecting on national and international policy and legislation and how these been developed to support inclusive practices that can mitigate barriers to inclusion.

Compulsory•20 credits
6 Modules

Approaches to Research

Begin your journey with the exciting opportunity to delve into and explore a contemporary issue that you feel passionate about and is relevant to your studies. The module will support you in developing the skills required to design and carry out a small scale research project in Trimester 2.

Compulsory•20 credits

Play and Learning

How do adults and environments in early years settings support young children’s learning? In this module you will explore the power that play and everyday experiences have on the development of babies and young children. You will reflect on the role you and others have in supporting them to make sense of the world.

Compulsory•20 credits

Professional Reflective Practice: Transitions

Weaning? Toilet Training? Moving to school? Bereavement? All of these transitions happen daily in life but what impact can they have?  Through this module you will be introduced to and supported in exploring the impact transitions can have on babies, young children and families developing further understanding of the role these can have in the ecological context of child development.

Compulsory•20 credits

Action Research Project

Delve into and explore a contemporary issue that you feel passionate about and that is relevant to your studies. You will have the opportunity to design and carry out a small scale research project which is relevant to your setting and your own professional development. 

Compulsory•20 credits

Professional Reflective Practice: Innovative Practice and Alternative Pedagogies

Explore the alternative and innovative pedagogies used around the world to support babies and young children in their developmental journey and explore a specific element to enhance your own practice, developing new skills and knowledge on the way.

Compulsory•20 credits

Supporting Children and Babies with SEND

This module will support your knowledge and skills in relation to working with babies, children and families with Special Educational Needs and Disability. You will reflect on policies and legislations and explore the inclusive strategies that support and enable learning, from hands-on activities to the use of Information technology.

Compulsory•20 credits
6 Modules

Playlist

Kath Hickman

Course Overview 2 mins

Rewilding Reading

Research Highlight 9 mins

Teaching facilities

University Life 1 min

Life on campus

University Life 2 mins

Entry requirements

What do I need?

What do I need?

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our academics

Our team of highly respected and experienced tutors are all experts in their specialisms.

Taught by a team of experts in the fields of education, social care, health, inclusion and therapeutic approaches, you’ll gain real, practical knowledge that will be invaluable in your future career.

See more academics for this subject
Kath Hickman
Featured academic

Kath Hickman

Kath has over 20 years’ experience working with children and families including childminding and community playgroups. She developed childcare provisions with Sure Start, has a keen interest in outdoors learning and is part of our Forest School team.
Kerrie Lee
Featured academic

Kerrie Lee

An experienced early years practitioner, Kerrie's research focuses on how environment, space and place interact and shape the lives of young people. She is working on a consultation for new projects to support early years in museums and galleries.

Take a look at our facilities

Education Lecture Room

Study the theory in our lecture rooms – before you put your learning into practice in the classroom.

Forest School Training Centre

You could study for a Forest School certification within our outdoor classroom, gardens, wooded area and wildflower meadows.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our seven-storey library is a superb learning space. As well as more than a million books, there’s a variety of study areas, over 400 open-access PCs and one amazing view.

Early Years Room

You could access our simulated early years learning environment. An engaging, inclusive space incorporating a range of materials, resources and technology.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

Forest School Training Centre

Look around

An Early Years student helps a young girl to play in a wooden kitchen
Education Lecture Room
Forest School Training Centre
Brynmor Jones Library Observation Deck
An Early Years student helps a young girl to play in a wooden kitchen
Schoolchildren and their teacher reading in classroom

Future prospects

Our degrees reflect the high demand for well-trained professional practitioners. The range of opportunities for graduates in children’s services is varied and wide.

You’ll be able to go on to further study, such as a top-up programme which may include Graduate Practitioner Status.

You could also go on to support children with additional needs or secure community, social or family support work, or progress as an early years practitioner or work in community services.

University of Hull Open Day

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

The standard way to apply for this course is through UCAS. This will give you the chance to showcase your skill, qualities and passion for the subject, as well as providing your academic qualifications.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

Visit our next Open Day, and see all that Hull has to offer for yourself. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.

Book your place now

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  1. This course has been endorsed by, and received a badge of excellence from, SEFDEY (Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree in Early Years).
  2. EYE status is a Department of Education approved qualification that allows you to be recognised as a ‘full and relevant’ practitioner in the early years sector. To achieve EYE status, you will need to complete a portfolio of evidence and have level 2 maths by the end of the course.

 

All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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